Sacred Heart 52

CP Bheanntraí 14

MATTHEW HURLEY REPORTS

THERE’S no stopping Sacred Heart right now.

The Clonakilty school powered into the history books by becoming the first to win three Munster Schools Girls Senior Cup titles in a row.

Champions in 2024 and ’25, they showed their class with a commanding victory over Coláiste Pobail Bheanntraí in an all-West Cork decider at Virgin Media Park on Tuesday.

They had heroes everywhere and could even afford to withdraw Clodagh McCarthy, Julie Finn and Lani O’Donovan at half time with a 31-0 lead already established. To underline Sacred Heart’s strength in depth, sub Laura Sexton came on to score a hat-trick of second-half tries.

Sacred Heart hat-trick hero Laura Sexton scores a try. (Photo: Tom O’Hanlon/INPHO)

Manager Jack Phelan is thrilled to be working with such a talented group.

‘We have a panel of 25 players but had more outside that 25 who were unlucky not to make it. That makes my job very difficult because we have 25, 26, 27 girls there all well capable of putting on a starting jersey,’ Phelan told The Southern Star.

‘Our tempo didn’t drop. Laura Sexton off the bench is an example – a hat-trick when she came on. She's very unlucky not to get that 15 jersey. We have that hunger and that calibre of player and long may it continue.’

Clonakilty rugby is spearheading the sport’s growth in West Cork, with both club and school filling their trophy cabinets.

While some players’ school days are coming to an end, there is a strong belief they can achieve further success. McCarthy, Finn and O’Donovan are all on the extended Ireland U18 panel for the upcoming Six Nations – a clear indicator of the talent in the region.

‘When I came in here last year and saw the calibre of girls, I thought anything was possible with this group. There are special talents. People representing Munster across the board, potentially Ireland as well. They’re such a special group and I just feel so privileged and proud to be a mentor to them,’ Phelan added.

Sacred Heart's Ciara O'Driscoll and Leona Arra lift the cup. (Photo: Tom O’Hanlon/INPHO)

Leona Arra is one of six players to start in all three Munster senior triumphs, alongside Clodagh McCarthy, Ella O’Sullivan, Rachel Twomey, Kate Burton and Roxanne Llewellyn. A remarkable achievement.

‘We always like to push harder and just keep going through the battle. It was a great game and I’m really proud of the whole team,’ Arra said.

‘We were so new to it the first time. Everyone is so passionate about rugby and we really wanted to keep going. Women’s rugby should keep growing because it’s great and really empowering.’

For sixth years and co-captains Arra and Ciara O’Driscoll, this was the perfect way to finish their school careers.

‘I’m so proud of the team. The work we put in all year has paid off. To put in such a good performance, it made it all worthwhile,’ O’Driscoll said.

‘The memories we’ve made will last a lifetime. The meetings in school at lunchtime and the craic we’ve had – it was there on the bus on the way up, and I’m sure there’ll be more on the way down!’

Coláiste Pobail Bheanntraí's Grace Kingston is tackled. (Photo: Tom O’Hanlon/INPHO)

Sacred Heart were on top from the outset. Coláiste Pobail Bheanntraí failed to gain possession inside the Clon 22 during the first half, underlining the winners’ dominance.

After a slightly nervy opening eight minutes, Sacred Heart broke the deadlock when Clodagh McCarthy and Ciara O’Driscoll combined to set up Keelin McCarthy for the opening try.

Half-backs Julie Finn and Lani O’Donovan dictated proceedings, linking up for a superb try on 12 minutes, with Rachel Twomey adding the conversion.

Finn crossed again two minutes later after a line-break from Elsa Quirke.

Roxanne Llewellyn powered over for the fourth try before Niamh Hilliard punished a Bantry line-out malfunction to add a fifth.

Laura Sexton, Julie Cunningham, Sinead O'Callaghan, Seadhna Walsh and Shona Fleming with the cup. (Photo: Tom O’Hanlon/INPHO)

‘We targeted a fast start, whether we had the wind or not. That’s exactly what happened. As soon as the whistle went, the girls went out and really dug deep, putting that foundation in place for us to go on and win the game,’ Phelan explained.

To their credit, Coláiste Pobail Bheanntraí, appearing in their first senior final, responded with two second-half tries through Grace Kingston and Alice O’Donovan.

However, from that point on, it was all about Sacred Heart super-sub Laura Sexton, whose hat-trick sealed not just the game but a historic three-in-a-row.

It was another outstanding day for the all-conquering Clonakilty school, and one that Bantry will learn from.

Scorers

Sacred Heart: Laura Sexton (three tries); Julie Finn (two tries); Keelin McCarthy, Roxanne Llewellyn, Niamh Hilliard (one try each); Rachel Twomey (three conversions), Lani O’Donovan (two conversions); Shona Fleming (one conversion).

Coláiste Pobail Bheanntraí: Grace Kingston, Alice O’Donovan (one try each); Abbey Connolly (two conversions).

Sacred Heart: Clodagh McCarthy; Keelin McCarthy, Elsa Quirke, Rachel Twomey, Ella O’Sullivan; Lani O’Donovan, Julie Finn; Sinead O’Callaghan, Ciara O’Driscoll (co-captain), Julie Cunningham; Leona Arra (co-captain), Niamh Hilliard; Kate Burton, Amie Millin, Roxanne Llewellyn.

Replacements: Charlotte McCabe, Emily Bell, Chloe Galwey, Maya McMahon, Yasmine Asare, Elva McAuley, Annabel Tapia, Laura Sexton, Shona Fleming, Seodhna Walsh.

Coláiste Pobail Bheanntraí: Seren Lehane; Sophie O’Shea, Ciara Kelly, Alice O’Donovan, Carla O’Regan; Abbey Connolly, Grace Kingston (captain); Laura Cronin, Muireann McCarthy, Leah Barry; Caoimhe McCarthy, Lucy Donaldson; Ellie O’Connor, Annie Doody, Mary Fox.

Replacements: Aoife Myler, Kate Triggs-Sharkey, Chloe O’Driscoll, Anna McAulliffe, Amy Coughlan.

Referee: Dara Finn.